Cruise Report

Apr.24th

Denmark is known as the popular gateway to Northern Europe, and its capital Copenhagen is a lively town with an abundance of nature, a beautiful Middle Ages cityscape, as well as colourful buildings lining Nyhavn. Denmark is also one of the Northern European welfare states, which are known as some of the happiest in the world. Out of this culture sprung the concept of “Hygge”, a word which means “the feel-good warm atmosphere created from coming together with others”, something that has since drawn the attention of the world. Time to take a stroll through Copenhagen’s mix of uniquely European heritage and refinement whilst taking in the Danish lifestyle.

A beautiful cityscape sprung from a fairytale world

The Danish capital of Copenhagen and is the largest city in Northern Europe, having flourished as a key point for trade and commerce. With its unique fusion of modern architecture with historical brick buildings, the beautiful cityscape has been dubbed the “Paris of Scandinavia”. One particularly popular spot in the city is Nyhavn, noted for its rows of colourful wooden buildings and as the long-time home of famed childrens author Hans Christian Andersen, where walking around feels like you’ve stepped into a dreamlike world. The birthplace of everyone’s favourite stories as a child is right here. One of the most famous examples, The Little Mermaid, is well represented here as the symbol of fairytales with a statue of the mermaid sitting quietly by the river. Stylish cafes and restaurants line the rivers edge, with many people enjoying having a meal or coffee in the open air. With a gentle breeze blowing, you can truly take in the feeling of this port town filled with uniquely Scandinavian tradition.

The fairytale-like backdrop of Nyhavn is a must-see, along with the canal cruises circling the city.

Copenhagen City Hall. Regulations stipulate that tall buildings cannot be built in the city, with the result being that the beautiful historical cityscape is kept intact.

Denmark is also known as one of the most bike-friendly countries in the world, with designated bike lanes set up throughout the city, showing the city’s mindfullness of and commitment to being environmentally friendly.

Through the structures bearing the history of the kingdom

Just a short stretch from the city center lies a world heritage site where you can really get a feel for the Middle Ages. You can find both the massive Kronborg Castle, the setting for Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet, as well as Roskilde Cathedral, the first cathedral in Denmark and burial place for the Danish royal family that boasts a decadent interior design. With more than 1000 years of history, the Danish kingdom is the oldest in Europe and here you can truly feel the history of this land where kings have walked. One of the features of Amalienborg Palace, where the current queen resides, is the changing of the guard. It’s possible watch close up, watching the precisely timed and regimented movements of the soldiers. The guards’ uniform is also in particular of note, with their brightly coloured clothes and black-haired caps. Their sharp movements provide a light formality to the palace courtyard.

With a Scandinavian Renaissance exterior, the interior powerfully boasts gorgeous decorations showing the splendour of the Danish royalty.

Inside the Palace, you can gaze up as the massive dome, which feels like looking a picture of outer space from a dream.

With their black caps and bright blue pants, the palace guards are seen as one of the mascots of Denmark.